Tin-plate-weighing machine



J. M. HOTHERSALL.

TIN PLATE WEIGHING MACHINE Filed April 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet l N% Whl K "ME wh Mm NM mu WN NW Nova 15, 1927.

J. M. HQTHERSALL TIN PLATE WEIGHING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 2 1923 Patented Nov. 15,1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN M. HOTHERSALL, BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T AMERICAN CAN COMPANY, OF YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

TIN-PLATE-WEIGHING MACHINE.

Application filed April 20, 1923. Serial No. 633,347.

This invention has, as a general object, the provision of a machine for sorting sheets of tin plate, or the like, in accordance with the weight thereof, in order to separate stock of s diflerent grades which may be required for different uses. To this end, I provide a plurality of scale platforms arranged in tandem relationship and being of difierent degrees of sensitiveness, so that the heavier sheets may operate the first platform and be deflected therefrom to a suitable place of deposit, and lighter sheets may similarly operate successively arranged platforms with like result, means being provided to move the sheets inin dividually across those platforms.

Another object is the provision, in a machine of this character, of means for controlling the position of the sheets upon the Weighing and sorting devices so that they so may be effectively directed to'the particular stack to which they belong.

A further object of the invention is the provision of separate balancing means, each particularly suited to the requirements of the individual scale platform with which it is associated, so that each platform may be operated in the most effective manner for its particular position and balance.

Numerous other objects and advantages of W the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of a machine embodying the principles of my invention;

Fig. 2' is aside elevation thereof with certain parts broken away for convenience in an illustration;

Fig. 3 is a partial longitudinal section taken substantially on the line 33 in Fig. 1 and showing the second platform in tripped position;

i at Fig. 4 is a similar view, showing thefirst platform in tripped position; and

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view, taken substantlally on the line 5 -5 in Fig. 1.

fhe apparatus shown on the drawings, for to purposes of illustration, com risesa frame supported by a plurality of uprights 21, which serve to support a delivery conveyer 22, a transfer conveyer 23 and a plurality of weighing devices arranged as and for the at purpose to be hereinafter set forth.

I chine.

A stack of blanks 24 is arranged upon a table 25, supported by the uprights 21 at one end of the machine and these blanks may be individually positioned upon the delivery conveyer 22, whereby they are fed into the ma Said conveyer 22 consists of two spaced sprocket chains provided with projections, or flights, 26 adapted to engage behind a sheet to propel it toward the transfer conveyer 23. The chains forming the conveyer 22 extend about sprockets 27 mounted on a transverse shaft 28 and at the other end take over sprockets 29 mounted upon a transverse shaft 31 having hearings in opposed uprights 21. Angle members 32 are provided upon a table 33, supported upon adjacent uprights,

and these angle members provide guideways between which the sheets are moved. Rails 32 are positioned upon the table 33, between the conveyer chains, and serve to support the central portions of the sheets as they are moved by said conveyer 22.

The conveyer 23 consists of spaced chains taking over sprockets34 and 35, carried respectively upon transverse shafts 36 and 37, which have hearings in upper extensions 38, of suitably spaced uprights 21. The shaft 37 may be driven from a suitable source of power by a belt taking over a pulley 39, and it will be noted that the conveyer chains 23 are directed over central sprockets 41, provided at the upper ends of extensions 42 of the central uprights 21. The shaft 36 carries, at one end, a gear 43, which meshes with a gear 44 upon the shaft 31, thus providing an operative connection for driving the conveye'r 22.

The conveyer 23 is provided with transverse angle members 45, upon which are secured feeding fingers 46, adapted to extend downwardly from the chains in their lower course of travel. When a sheet 24 is delivered by the conveyer 22, it is directed onto a scale platform, generally indicated by the reference character 47 Said platform coinprises central rails 48 and side plates 49, all of which are connected together by means of cross connectors 51 A balancing device is provided for said platform 47 and is illustrated in detail in Figs. 3 and 4. A weight 52 is carried upon a rod 53, which, at its rear end, is connected to a transverse bar 54, which is also connected by a rod 55 with the cross connector 51 secured to the rear ends of the platform mem- 47, i. e., the end adjacentthe delivery con-' veyer 22, said forward end of the platform is depressed and the rear end is also correspondingly lowered by means of connect-ing members, to be now described.

A rod 59, depending from the cross bar 54, is connected by a rod 61 with a vertically disposed rod 62 forming a part of the knife edge support for the rear end of the platform. Said rod 62 is connected atits upper end with a cross member 63, which is sharpened on its under side to form a knife edge, supported in grooved blocks 64 on the frame. Said cross member 63 is connected by a forward extension 65 with a yoke 66 extending downwardly on the outside of the rails 57 and engagin a cross member 67 on the un-' der side of t e platform. When the rod 61 is forced in rearward direction by the depression of the forward end of the platform, the connectin parts just described are moved from t e position shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 4, this movement being about the point of contact of the lmlfe edge member 63 with the grooved blocks 64. It

' is obvious that this movement results in the lowering of the rear end of the platform and, when in this position, the sheet 24 1s deflected by a deflecting member 67 and the action of the conveyer 23 into a chute 68, through which it falls onto a bed 71 supported at an intermediate omt upon the uprights 21. The sheets which operate the scale platform just described are heavler than normal and are deposited, in the manner indicated, onto a stack 72, which may be removed manually, or in any desired manner.

'If a sheet is not of sufiicient weight to operate the platform 47 in the manner just described, it is directed onto a second platform 73, which is so balanced as to be tripped by a less weight than is required trip the platform 47. Said platform 73 15 formed of side plates 74, correspondin to the plates 49 on the platform 47 an is provlded at the center with a longitudinal ar 75, carrying at its front end a plate 76, the purpose of which will-hereinafter appear. A cross bar 77 connects said plates 74 at their forward end and is balanced on a knife edge-78, rovided in a bracket 79,

i depending from t e frame. The deflecting plate 67 is secured at the forward end of the platform 73 and said platform is pivoted just rearwardly of said late. Extending forwardly from the bar 77 1s a rod 81, carrying a weight 82, which may be of such size as to give the desired balance to said platform 73 upon the knife edge support 78. If the sheet be of such weight as to overbalancc the weight 82, the rear end of the platform 73 will be tilted downwardly, as shown in Fi 3, causing the sheet to strike against a deflecting late 83 positioned at the forward end of a third platform 84 and corresponding to the plate 67'. The sheets which trip said platform 73, preferably, are those of normal weight and they are directed by a chute 85 onto the bed 71, forming a stack 86.

The platform 84 is mounted similarly to the platform 73 and is balanced by a wei ht 87, which permits the tripping of said pl ntform by a sheet of less weight than is necessary to trip either the platform 73, or the platform 47. The sheets from this platform are directed downwardly through a chute 88 and form a stack, which is designated by the reference character 89, upon the bed 71. A deflectin plate 90 is provided at the rear end of t e platform 84 and corresponds in ariaangement and function to the plates 67 an 83.

The sheets which are too light to operate any of the platforms 47, 73, or 84, are ejected from the machine through a chute 91.

While I have described the weights 52, 82 and 87 in the singular, it will be under stood that they are duplicated at opposite sides of the machine and-that the arrange ment and connection with the platforms is the same on both sides.

In order that the sheets may be held closely against the platforms adjacent the deflecting plates 67 83 and 90, I provide, upon the rear end of each platform, an electro-magnet 92, which is illustrated in detail in Fig. 5. A plate 93 is rovided at the rear end of the rails 48 and ates 76 are positioned upon the longitudina bars 75, as hereinbefore stated. The magnets are held against the under side of these plates, being supported upon brackets .94 depending from the platforms. Suitable wirlng 95 su plies current to the magnets 92, the wires ing secured to blocks 96attached to the under sides of the directing chutes 68, and 88, suflicient length being allowed between said blocks and magnets to permit vertical movement of the platforms. As shown in Fig.5, said magnets serve to draw the ed of the sheets from the dotted line position, indicated at 97, to the full line position, indicated at 98, and in which the sheet is held tightly against a plate 93 0r76.

It is thou ht that the invention and many of its atten ant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the (parts without departing from the-spirit an scope of the invention, or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore deseribal being mere- 1y a preferred embodiment thereof.

ll claim: I

1. A machine for sorting sheets of tin plate, or the like, comprising a plurality of weighing devices operable by sheets of difierent weight, each weighing device having separate'pivotal knife edges at its front and rear parts, and means for moving the sheets across said devices whereby they may be selectively delivered by operation thereof to stacks of different grades. c

2. A machine for sorting sheets of tin plate, or the like, comprising a plurality of scale platforms of diiferent balance each adapted to discharge sheets of a predetermined weight, means for moving the sheets across said platforms wherebythey are discharged by one or another of the latter in accordance with the sheet weight, and means for guiding a sheet from a platform depressed by said sheet and to a point under the next successiveplatform, and means for arranging the sheets discharged by different platforms in separate stacks. V

.3. A machine for sorting sheets of tin plate, or the like, comprising a plurality of scale platforms of different balance each adapted to discharge sheets of a predetermined weight, means for moving the sheets across said platforms whereby they are discharged by one or another of .the latter /in accordance with the sheet weight,-and defleeting means arranged adjacent each said platform for directing the sheets therefrom to a stack of sheets of particular grade.

4. A machine for sorting sheets of tin plate, or the like, comprising a plurality of scale platforms of difierent balance each adapted to discharge sheets of a predetermined weightmeans .formoving the sheets across said platforms whereby they are discharged by one or another of the latter in accordance with the sheet weight, and deflecting means arranged adjacent each said platform for directing the sheets therefrom scale platforms of different balance each adapted to discharge sheets of a predetermined weight, means for moving the sheets across said platforms whereby they are dis-' charged by one or another of the latter in accordance with the sheet weight, deflecting means arranged adjacent each said platform for directing the sheets therefrom to a stack of sheets of particular grade, said platforms being adapted to be depressed at one end in their discharging action, and means for holding the sheets to a platform and in position to engage said deflecting means during downward movement of said platform, sai

last-mentioned means comprising electromagnets.

6. A machine for sorting sheets of'tin plate, or the like, comprisin a plurality of weighing platforms of di erent balance, means for transferring the sheets' to be sorted across said platforms, and means associated with each of said platforms for direct ing and deflecting vertically the ,sheetstherefrom in the event that the platform is depressed by theweight of a sheet thereon.

7. A machine for sorting sheets of tin plate, or the like, comprising a plurality of weighing platforms of' different balance, means for guiding the sheets to be sorted across said platforms, and means associated with each of said latforms for directing and deflecting, vertlcally the sheets therefrom in the event that the platform is depressed by the weightof a sheet thereon.

" JOHN M. HOTHERSALL. 

